Underground explosions are often blamed on a lack of ventilation equipment to remove gas that seeps from the coal bed. Fuxin, as one of China's oldest coal mining regions, could be a particularly risky place to work as miners must tunnel far underground to reach coal seams.

According to official figures, more than 5,000 people died in explosions, floods and fires in China's mines in 2004.

The toll was 8% lower than in 2003, the government said. Nevertheless, Beijing admits China's fatality rate per ton of coal mined is still 100 times that of the US.

China last year produced 35% of the world's coal but reported 80% of global deaths in colliery accidents. The industry cost the lives of 15 miners a day in the first nine months of 2004, according to the official figures.

Monday's blast was the deadliest since 166 miners were killed in a gas explosion at the Chenjiashan mine in Shaanxi province in November.

Following that accident, the State Council ordered an inquiry and newspaper editorials called for a more humane and balanced view of economic progress.

China has two kinds of mines: big, state-run operations, which are generally thought to be safer, and smaller private mines where the majority of deaths occur.

Correspondents say energy shortages mean the price of coal has gone up, leading some unscrupulous mine operators to cut corners to increase production.

Others have been accused of re-opening mines which had been shut down because of poor safety standards.